The familiar black and white markings aren’t highway patrol cruisers – we have a herd of Dutch Belted cattle on Bay Hill Road. They’re on the Bodega Bay side, just beyond the first big curve. You’ll see them in the pasture to the right as you’re traveling up the hill. There are calves now that are especially cute. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the llamas that are their “watch dogs”.

Dutch Belted cattle are known for their clean, graphic markings, and can be either primarily black or brown. There are both in our local herd. They’re fairly rare, and for a long time there was only a single herd in Sonoma County, so it’s fun to see them in our coastal hills.